Leading U.S. operator PanAmSat chooses Arianespace to launch Galaxy 17

Evry, France, September 9, 2004-At the 6th World Summit on Space Transportation Business held in Paris, Arianespace announced today that it has been chosen by U.S. operator PanAmSat to launch the Galaxy 17 satellite.

Galaxy 17 will be orbited by an Ariane 5 as early as late 2006 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Alcatel Space will build the satellite using its Spacebus 3000 B3 platform.  Galaxy 17 will provide TV broadcast and telephony services for North America.  Offering a design life of 15 years, it will weigh about 4,100 kg at liftoff and will be fitted with 24 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders.

This will be the 21st Arianespace launch for PanAmSat, a global provider of satellite communications services and the Number One operator in the United States. 

"Arianespace is very proud of this latest selection by PanAmSat, one of our longest-standing customers," said Jean-Yves Le Gall, CEO of Arianespace.  "Since the launch of their first satellite on Ariane 4's maiden mission in June 1988, we have built a solid relationship of mutual trust through a number of successful launches, a relationship that we hope will continue for many years to come."

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the leading global commercial launch services provider offering a family of vehicles able to launch any mass to any orbit.  Created in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company, Arianespace has signed contracts for the launch of more than 250 satellite payloads.  Arianespace is a member of the innovative Launch Services Alliance with Boeing Launch Services and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries that provides true mission assurance to satellite operators around the globe.  For further information, see the Arianespace Web site at www.arianespace.com.